Sunday, June 24, 2007

Reverence

When you are before the altar where Christ reposes, you ought no longer to think that you are amongst men; but believe that there are troops of angels and archangels standing by you, and trembling with respect before the sovereign Master of Heaven and earth. Therefore, when you are in church, be there in silence, fear, and veneration.

- Saint John Chrysostom

Do you think the last line still applies today?

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Interesting question.
Yes, I think it still applies today. Truth does not change, does it?
However, we are in a different place in the Church than we were even 50 years ago. What I mean is that people of a parish used to all live in pretty close proximity to the physical church. They saw each other across the fence and gathered for picnics, block parties, and the like.
Today, members of a parish are likely to live further apart and not see one another through the week. Combine that with small vestibules, left from Church buildings built long ago, and you have chatter in the Sanctuary.
This doesn't mean I think it is alright; quite the contrary, it bugs me to no end. But I have learned to offer it up, and casually insert my feelings about this lapse in reverence as I am able in conversation with fellow parishoners/Catholics. I have found this to be the most charitable way that *I* can combat this phenomenon.
I also do what I can, as the mother of 5, to create opportunities for our parish community to have social activities totally apart from the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Seeing others outside of Mass, on a regular basis, makes everyone less likely to be tempted to chatter when we see one another in the Sanctuary.
In Christ,
Feisty Muse

AquinaSavio said...

Yep...still applies today. :D

Simon-Peter Vickers-Buckley said...

It's the "nave" NOT the sanctuary.

The sanctuary is for the actio dei through the priest.

The people hang in the nave...or they should.

Horizontal language.

Kevin - "pax tecum" said...

Discipline.....is the answer